Every January, an onslaught of productivity products is slewn at us in an effort to convince us that we can be a better version of ourselves...if we just buy whatever they are selling.Don’t get me wrong. I’m a big fan of goal setting and organizational stuff~ I’ve purchased programs and books, listened to podcasts, watched videos and participated in challenges galore.There’s really a lot of good stuff out there, and I know this because I’ve experimented with so much of it. I’ve also used a whole lotta time and energy perusing for more and different and new things as though what I really need...the thing that will actually get things happening is out there.But it’s not.Well, maybe it is, but I probably don’t need it because I already have what i need to get things done and make things happen.I have a spirit of a dreamer and a functioning and creative brain to help me figure out how to make those dreams come true. I have paper and pens to make lists a plenty, and internet access, shelves of books and a library card to research and learn what I need. I a phone and friends and family who are smart and know people and things. And whether I like to admit or not, I actually DO have time to work on things~ the time I spend looking at new planners and journals~ the time I spend earning money to pay for them~ the time I get sidetracked and look at 5 million other things that have nothing to do with getting me closer to my goals~ yeah….that time. I know it’s a crazy idea, but I could use that time to actually work towards the things I’m saying I want. And even though I’m not a gambler, I’d bet YOU probably already have a good deal of what you need too.Why we as humans or as westerners are convinced we need some outside source or product or expert run program and can’t do things on our own is a mystery.As a species, we’ve gotten pretty far. As a society, we’ve traveled, explored, developed and created. (Some have also destroyed and pillaged along the way, but that’s another essay) Somewhere along the line, many of us have become complacent and dependant on outside validation. We’ve lost faith in ourselves.We’ve become addicted to distraction.Maybe the fear of actually realizing we are letting the precious gift of our lives and our freedom pass us by paralyzes us into seeking any means of avoiding the truth? Even if it’s watching other people live their lives instead of actually enjoying going out and living our own, or convincing ourselves that WE ARE actually doing something by buying and consuming (or buying and ignoring) products to guide us on our path, but never actually making any progress on that path.I’m not bashing the self help industry because I know it does a lot of good, and I’ve benefited plenty from it myself.But I am saying that at some point, we should look at what we actually are doing~ analyzing and planning are great and so is having help, but eventually you gotta just do what you need to do.And you’ve gotta realize that you can procrastinate and deflect all over the place, but you actually already have what you need right inside you.It might not be all you need. In fact, it might barely be a smidgen of a tiny bit in the general direction. But, it’s something and it matters.And it’s worth focusing your attention on long enough to actually get something out of it.In a world where a bazillion new, shiny and different options are at our fingertips, we’d all do well to just sit down and start working with what we’ve got~ to use that up and make the best of it, and along the way, we’d probably realize what else we actually do need and a whole lot more things that we don’t need at all.And if you believe that what you tell the universe matters (which I do), you’d be sending out the message that you’re not just wanting to think, but to actually do something about making stuff happen. Whether it’s a trip to Europe or a night in your backyard in a tent with your kid, writing a blog post or a book, whatever it is, the most likely way to get there is by taking a step. Put down the map, quit buying new ones, and just take a friggen step. You can always pick the map back up or buy another one if you really find you need it. But you also might find that your destination didn’t even require anything beyond your internal compass and some tools that you already had on hand.For today, just take a step already.